1987 Philadelphia Eagles season

The 1987 Philadelphia Eagles season was their 55th in the National Football League (NFL). Despite the interruption of the schedule by the second strike in six seasons, the team improved upon their previous output of 5–10–1, going 7–8.[1] However, three of those losses came during the three-game stretch during the strike when teams were staffed primarily with replacement players, or "scabs," who crossed the picket lines to suit up. Despite the improvement, the team once again failed to qualify for the playoffs.

1987 Philadelphia Eagles season
OwnerNorman Braman
Head coachBuddy Ryan
Home fieldVeterans Stadium
Results
Record7–8
Division place4th NFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Uniform

Defensive lineman Reggie White nonetheless had a breakout season, establishing a new NFL record by exploding for 21 sacks in only 12 games.

On October 25 at Veterans Stadium, in the first game back after the strike was settled, Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan called for the infamous "fake kneel" in the final seconds with the hosts leading the Dallas Cowboys by 10 points. The fake eventually led to another late touchdown, payback for Cowboys head coach Tom Landry running up the score with starters who crossed the picket line to play two weeks earlier at Texas Stadium. One week later, Philadelphia won its final road game against the Cardinals at the old Busch Stadium, before the franchise moved to Phoenix for the 1988 season.

Offseason

NFL draft

The 1987 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft was held April 28–29, 1987, in New York City. This again would be a 12-round draft of 28 teams. The Philadelphia Eagles would get the 9th in the 12 rounds. They would make 10 selections in the draft.

The table shows the Eagles selections and what picks they had that were traded away and the team that ended up with that pick. It is possible the Eagles' pick ended up with this team via another team that the Eagles made a trade with. Not shown are acquired picks that the Eagles traded away.

= Pro Bowler [2] = Hall of Famer
RoundPickPlayerPositionSchool
19Jerome BrownDefensive TackleMiami (FLA)
239Traded Pick toSan Francisco 49ers
365Ben TamburelloCenterAuburn
493Byron EvansLinebackerArizona
5121David AlexanderCenterTulsa
6149Ron MotenLinebackerFlorida
6158Chris PikeDefensive TackleTulsa
7177Brian WilliamsTackleCentral Michigan
8204Traded Pick toSan Diego Chargers
9232Ken LambiotteQuarterbackWilliam & Mary
10260Paul CarberryDefensive TackleOregon State
11288Traded Pick toLos Angeles Raiders
12316Bobby MorseRunning BackMichigan State

NFL supplemental draft

The Eagles would also use a pick in the 1987 NFL Supplemental Draft to take Cris Carter a wide receiver out of Ohio State. Prior to Carter's senior season in 1987, he secretly signed with notorious sports agent Norby Walters. When the contract was discovered, Carter was ruled ineligible to play for Ohio State.

Personnel

Staff

1987 Philadelphia Eagles staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams – Dan Neal

Strength and conditioning

NFL replacement players

After the league decided to use replacement players during the NFLPA strike, the following team was assembled:

Roster of the 1987 Replacement Eagles

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

  • 22 Jacque Robinson
  • 23 Willie Turral
  • 24 Reggie Brown
  • 27 Topper Clemons
  • 41 Alvin Ross
  • 47 Joel Sense

Wide Receivers

  • 81 Otis Grant
  • 82 Kenny Hansmire
  • 83 Kevin Bowman
  • 85 Jesse Bendross
  • 86 Mike Siano

Tight Ends

  • 84 Ron Fazio
  • 87 Eric Bailey
  • 89 Jay Repko

Offensive Linemen

  • 69 Jim Angelo
  • 75 Scott Leggett
  • 61 Matt Long
  • 78 Mike Nease
  • 64 Mike Perrino
  • 68 Pete Walters
  • 72 Jeff Wenzel

Defensive Linemen

  • 97 Jim Auer
  • 96 Marvin Ayers
  • 80 Rick Bodmar
  • 65 Gary Bolden
  • 90 Randall Mitchell
  • 74 Tim Mooney
  • 93 Ray Phillips

Linebackers

Defensive Backs

  • 39 Vic Bellamy
  • 48 Thomas Caterbone
  • 45 Chris Gerhard
  • 28 Greg Harding
  • 43 Carter Hartwig
  • 42 Angelo James
  • 35 Mike Kullman
  • 31 Troy West

Special Teams

Roster

1988 Philadelphia Eagles roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists

{{{reserve_lists}}}


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Regular season

In 1987, Mike Quick was part of NFL history. He finished second in the NFL in Touchdown receptions with 11. The leader was Jerry Rice with 23. This marked the first time in NFL history that a category leader doubled the total of his nearest competitor.[3]

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 13, 1987 at Washington Redskins L 34–24
52,188
2 September 20, 1987 New Orleans Saints W 27–17
57,485
September 27, 1987 at San Francisco 49ers canceled
3 October 4, 1987 Chicago Bears L 35–3
4,074
4 October 11, 1987 at Dallas Cowboys L 41–22
40,622
5 October 18, 1987 at Green Bay Packers L 16–10
35,842
6 October 25, 1987 Dallas Cowboys W 37–20
61,630
7 November 1, 1987 at St. Louis Cardinals W 28–23
24,586
8 November 8, 1987 Washington Redskins W 31–27
63,609
9 November 15, 1987 New York Giants L 20–17
66,172
10 November 22, 1987 St. Louis Cardinals L 31–19
55,592
11 November 29, 1987 at New England Patriots W 34–31
54,198
12 December 6, 1987 at New York Giants L 23–20
65,874
13 December 13, 1987 Miami Dolphins L 28–10
63,841
14 December 20, 1987 at New York Jets W 38–27
30,572
15 December 27, 1987 Buffalo Bills W 17–7
57,547

Games summaries

Week 1

Sunday, September 13, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium on grass playing surface in 74F degrees with wind at 11 MPH.

1234Final
Philadelphia Eagles (0–1)01014024
Washington Redskins (1–0)10771034
SCORING PLAYSPHILWASHTIME
1stRedskinsJess Atkinson 27-yard field goal03
RedskinsArt Monk 6-yard pass from Doug Williams (Jess Atkinson kick)010
2ndEaglesMike Quick 30-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)710
EaglesPaul McFadden 33-yard field goal1010
RedskinsGeorge Rogers 1-yard rush (Steve Cox kick)1017
3rdRedskinsReggie Branch 1-yard rush (Steve Cox kick)1024
EaglesRandall Cunningham 2-yard rush (Paul McFadden kick)1724
EaglesReggie White 70-yard fumble return (Paul McFadden kick)2424
4thRedskinsArt Monk 39-yard pass from Doug Williams (Steve Cox kick)2431
RedskinsSteve Cox 40-yard field goal2434

Week 2

Sunday, September 20, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 62F degrees with wind at 12 MPH.

1234Final
New Orleans Saints (1–1)1000717
Philadelphia Eagles 1–10173727
SCORING PLAYSN ORPHILTIME
1stSaintsMorten Andersen 45-yard field goal30
SaintsJohn Tice 6-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Morten Andersen kick)100
2ndEaglesPaul McFadden 30-yard field goal103
EaglesMike Quick 19-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)1010
EaglesKenny Jackson 25-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)1017
3rdEaglesPaul McFadden 30-yard field goal1020
EaglesSeth Joyner 18-yard fumble return (Paul McFadden kick)1027
SaintsJohn Tice 27-yard pass from Dave Wilson (Morten Andersen kick)1727

Week Canceled

Because of the NFLPA union's players strike against the NFL, all the games this week were cancelled. Replacement players were used when the season resumed the following week.

The Eagles would have traveled to Candlestick Park to face the host 49ers in what would have been Buddy Ryan's only trip to the Bay Area as the Eagles' head coach. The Eagles sought their second win in San Francisco since 1983 (and also since the AFL-NFL merger). Ryan's Eagles did meet the 49ers once, losing at Veterans Stadium in 1989. The Eagles did not travel to San Francisco until 1992, nor did they win in San Francisco until the final night of the 1993 season. [4]

Week 3

Sunday, October 4, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface; 48 degrees with wind at 19 MPH. This was the first game of the season with replacement players. The announced attendance was 4,074, the smallest crowd at an NFL contest in almost 40 years (since October 30, 1949, when 3,678 people attended a Washington Redskins-New York Bulldogs game at the Polo Grounds).

1234Final
Chicago Bears (3–0)7280035
Philadelphia Eagles (1–2)03003
SCORING PLAYSCHIPHILTIME
1stBearsLakei Heimuli 9-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Tim Lashar kick)70
2ndEaglesDave Jacobs 27-yard field goal73
BearsGlen Kozlowski 20-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Tim Lashar kick)143
BearsChris Brewer 1-yard rush (Tim Lashar kick)213
BearsAnthony Mosley 9-yard blocked punt return (Tim Lashar kick)283
BearsDon Kindt 3-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Tim Lashar kick)353

Week 4

Sunday, October 11, 1987 Kickoff 12:00 PM Central

Played at Texas Stadium on a grass playing surface in 58F degrees with wind at 16 MPH. Played with replacement players.

1234Final
Philadelphia Eagles (1–3)376622
Dallas Cowboys (3–1)21614041
SCORING PLAYSPHILDALTIME
1stCowboysKelvin Edwards 62-yard rush (Luis Zendejas kick)07
CowboysAlvin Blount 8-yard rush (Luis Zendejas kick)014
CowboysCornell Burbage 77-yard pass from Kevin Sweeney (Luis Zendejas kick)021
EaglesDave Jacobs 40-yard field goal321
2ndEaglesKevin Bowman 62-yard pass from Scott Tinsley (Dave Jacobs kick)1021
CowboysLuis Zendejas 44-yard field goal1024
CowboysLuis Zendejas 50-yard field goal1027
3rdCowboysTony Dorsett 10-yard rush (Luis Zendejas kick)1034
CowboysAlvin Blount 1-yard rush (Luis Zendejas kick)1041
EaglesMike Siano 13-yard pass from Scott Tinsley (kick failed)1641
4thEaglesClemons 13-yard pass from Scott Tinsley (kick failed)2241

Week 5

Sunday, October 18, 1987 Kickoff 12:00 PM Central

Played at Lambeau Field on a grass playing surface in 46F degrees with wind at 11 MPH. Played with replacement players.

1234OTFinal
Philadelphia Eagles (1–4)7003010
Green Bay Packers (2–2)0370616
SCORING PLAYSPHILGBTIME
1stEaglesAlvin Ross 5-yard rush (Dave Jacobs kick)70
2ndPackersMax Zendejas 42-yard field goal73
3rdPackersLee Morris 46-yard pass from Alan Risher (Max Zendejas kick)710
4thEaglesDave Jacobs 44-yard field goal1010
OTPackersJimmy Hargrove 5-yard rush1016

Week 6

Sunday October 25, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 56F degrees with wind at 15 MPH. This was the first week the Eagles played after the NFLPA strike ended.

This was the revenge game for Week 4, where the Cowboys ran up the score against an Eagles replacement squad. Despite the game being effectively over, with the Eagles leading and having possession of the ball, the Eagles performed a fake spike into a pass. Pass interference was called, and the Eagles successfully scored from the 1-yard line on the next play as time expired.[5]

1234Final
Dallas Cowboys (3–3)373720
Philadelphia Eagles (2–4)31071737
SCORING PLAYSDALPHILTIME
1stCowboysRoger Ruzek 23-yard field goal30
EaglesPaul McFadden 46-yard field goal33
2ndEaglesPaul McFadden 45-yard field goal36
EaglesJohn Spagnola 10-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)313
CowboysHerschel Walker 1-yard rush (Roger Ruzek kick)1013
3rdCowboysRoger Ruzek 25-yard field goal1313
EaglesAnthony Toney 1-yard rush (Paul McFadden kick)1320
4thEaglesPaul McFadden 21-yard field goal1323
EaglesJohn Spagnola 5-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)1330
CowboysTony Dorsett 19-yard pass from Danny White (Roger Ruzek kick)2030
EaglesKeith Byars 1-yard rush (Paul McFadden kick)2037

Week 7

Sunday, November 1, 1987 Kickoff 12:00 PM Central

Played at Busch Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface in 68F degrees with wind at 10 MPH.

1234Final
Philadelphia Eagles (3–4)0714728
St. Louis Cardinals (2–5)6071023
SCORING PLAYSPHILST LTIME
1stCardinalsEarl Ferrell 8-yard rush (kick failed)06
2ndEaglesCris Carter 22-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)76
3rdEaglesKeith Byars 2-yard rush (Paul McFadden kick)146
EaglesKenny Jackson 70-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)216
CardinalsJ.T. Smith 14-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick)2113
4thCardinalsJim Gallery 43-yard field goal2116
CardinalsRobert Awalt 8-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick)2123
EaglesGregg Garrity 9-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)2823

Week 8

Sunday, November 8, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 52F degrees with wind at 10 MPH.

1234Final
Washington Redskins (6–2)7140627
Philadelphia Eagles (4–4)71001431
SCORING PLAYSWASHPHILTIME
1stEaglesAnthony Toney 5-yard rush (Paul McFadden kick)07
RedskinsGeorge Rogers 3-yard rush (Ali Haji-Sheikh kick)77
2ndRedskinsArt Monk 19-yard pass from Jay Schroeder (Ali Haji-Sheikh kick)147
RedskinsDarrell Green 26-yard fumble return (Ali Haji-Sheikh kick)217
EaglesPaul McFadden 37-yard field goal2110
EaglesMike Quick 6-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)2117
4thEaglesMike Quick 32-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)2124
RedskinsGary Clark 47-yard pass from Jay Schroeder (kick failed)2724
EaglesGregg Garrity 40-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)2731

Week 9

Sunday, November 15, 1987 Kickoff 4:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 50F degrees with wind at 8 MPH.

1234Final
New York Giants (3–6)737320
Philadelphia Eagles (4–5)1007017
SCORING PLAYSNY GPHILTIME
1stEaglesRandall Cunningham 4-yard rush (Paul McFadden kick)07
EaglesPaul McFadden 25-yard field goal010
giantsLionel Manuel 36-yard pass from Jeff Rutledge (Raul Allegre kick)710
2ndGiantsRaul Allegre 53-yard field goal1010
3rdEaglesKeith Byars 8-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)1017
GiantsGeorge Adams 1-yard rush (Raul Allegre kick)1717
4thGiantsRaul Allegre 52-yard field goal2017

Week 10

Sunday, November 22, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 26 °F with wind at 19 MPH with a wind chill of 12 °F.

1234Final
St. Louis Cardinals (4–6)7240031
Philadelphia Eagles (4–6)307919
SCORING PLAYSST L PHILTIME
1stEaglesPaul McFadden 44-yard field goal03
CardinalsRoy Green 20-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick)73
2ndCardinalsJ.T. Smith 6-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick)143
CardinalsJim Gallery 20-yard field goal173
CardinalsSmith 32-yard pass from Neil Lomax (Jim Gallery kick)243
CardinalsEarl Ferrell 35-yard rush (Jim Gallery kick)313
3rdEaglesMike Quick 16-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)3110
4thEaglesMike Quick 27-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)3117
EaglesSafety, Cater stepped out of end zone3119

Week 11

November 29, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Sullivan Stadium on an AstroTurf playing surface in 38F degrees with wind at 11 MPH.

1234OTFinal
Philadelphia Eagles (5–6)31477334
New England Patriots (5–6)010021031
SCORING PLAYSPHILNETIME
1stEaglesPaul McFadden 19-yard field goal30
2ndPatriotsTony Collins 24-yard pass from Tom Ramsey (Tony Franklin kick)37
EaglesMike Quick 61-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)107
EaglesRandall Cunningham 1-yard rush (Paul McFadden kick)177
PatriotsTony Franklin 21-yard field goal1710
3rdEaglesAnthony Toney 1-yard rush (Paul McFadden kick)2410
4thEaglesMike Quick 29-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)3110
PatriotsStanley Morgan 13-yard pass from Tom Ramsey (Tony Franklin kick)3117
PatriotsWillie Scott 3-yard pass from Tom Ramsey (Tony Franklin kick)3124
PatriotsTom Ramsey 1-yard rush (Tony Franklin kick)3131
OTEaglesPaul McFadden 38-yard field goal3431

Week 12

December 6, 1987 Stadium Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at The Meadowlands on an AstroTurf playing surface in 38F degrees with wind at 22 MPH and a wind chill of 27F.

1234OTFinal
Philadelphia Eagles (5–7)06014020
New York Giants (4–8)7067323
SCORING PLAYSPHILNY GTIME
1stGiantsMark Bavaro 19-yard pass from Phil Simms (Raul Allegre kick)07
2ndEaglesPaul McFadden 41-yard field goal37
EaglesPaul McFadden 49-yard field goal67
3rdGiantsRaul Allegre 20-yard field goal610
GiantsRaul Allegre 46-yard field goal613
4thGiantsStephen Baker 16-yard pass from Phil Simms (Raul Allegre kick)620
EaglesKenny Jackson 36-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)1320
EaglesJimmie Giles 40-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)2020
OTGiantsRaul Allegre 28-yard field goal2023

Week 13

Sunday, December 13, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 43F degrees with wind at 15 MPH.

1234Final
Miami Dolphins (7–6)01414028
Philadelphia Eagles (5–8)0100010
SCORING PLAYSMIAPHILTIME
2ndEaglesMike Quick 44-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)07
DolphinsMark Duper 20-yard pass from Dan Marino (Van Tiffin kick)77
EaglesPaul McFadden 27-yard field goal710
DolphinsRon Davenport 1-yard rush (Van Tiffin kick)1410
DolphinsMark Clayton 11-yard pass from Dan Marino (Van Tiffin kick)2110
DolphinsMark Clayton 20-yard pass from Dan Marino (Van Tiffin kick)2810

Week 14

Sunday, December 20, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at The Meadowlands on an Astroturf playing surface in 42F degrees with wind at 11 MPH.

1234Final
Philadelphia Eagles (6–8)101414038
New York Jets (6–8)3170727
SCORING PLAYSPHILNY JTIME
1stEaglesAnthony Toney 3-yard rush (Paul McFadden kick)70
EaglesPaul McFadden 38-yard field goal100
JetsPat Leahy 42-yard field goal103
2ndJetsKurt Sohn 9-yard pass from Ken O'Brien (Pat Leahy kick)1010
JetsRoger Vick 5-yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)1017
EaglesMike Quick 45-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)1717
EaglesMike Quick 13-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)2417
JetsPat Leahy 29-yard field goal2420
3rdEaglesKeith Byars 2-yard rush (Paul McFadden kick)3120
EaglesCris Carter 14-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)3820
4thJetsAl Toon 51-yard pass from Ken O'Brien (Pat Leahy kick)3827

Week 15

Sunday, December 27, 1987 Kickoff 1:00 PM Eastern

Played at Veterans Stadium on an Astroturf playing surface in 35F degrees with wind at 10 MPH with a wind chill of 28.

1234Final
Buffalo Bills (7–8)00077
Philadelphia Eagles (7–8–0)0107017
SCORING PLAYSBUFF PHILTIME
2ndEaglesPaul McFadden 39-yard field goal03
EaglesAnthony Toney 18-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Paul McFadden kick)010
3rdEaglesAnthony Toney 2-yard rush (Paul McFadden kick)017
4thBillsAndre Reed 4-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick)717

Standings

NFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Washington Redskins(3) 11 4 0 .733 7–1 9–3 379 285 W1
Dallas Cowboys 7 8 0 .467 4–4 5–7 340 348 W2
St. Louis Cardinals 7 8 0 .467 3–5 7–7 362 368 L1
Philadelphia Eagles 7 8 0 .467 3–5 4–7 337 380 W2
New York Giants 6 9 0 .400 3–5 4–8 280 312 W2

Awards and honors

  • Mike Quick, 1987 Pro Bowl selection

References

  1. 1987 Philadelphia Eagles
  2. Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.
  3. Numbelivable!, p.147, Michael X. Ferraro and John Veneziano, Triumph Books, Chicago, Illinois, 2007, ISBN 978-1-57243-990-0
  4. https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/teamvsteam?opp=27
  5. Why Did Buddy Ryan Run Up the Score On the Cowboys in 1987? Revenge.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.